Atx X had less than standard separation from cpr Y. System error.

Attributes
ACN	165761
Time
Date	199012
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pwl
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	165761
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	165762
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Atx X was southbound on V123 about 10-15 NM north of cmk level at 6000'. Cpr Y was southbound on V44 about 5-10 south of pwl and at 7000'. It was my intent as the controller involved to issue clearance to a third aircraft, aircraft Z, to fly heading 245 and descend to 60. Evidently I spoke the wrong call sign and issued the clearance to cpr Y instead. Cpr Y and atx X passed within 3 NM when both aircraft were at 6000' supplemental information from acn 165762. Similar sounding call signs. Controller issued turn and climb to regain sep.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX X HAD LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION FROM CPR Y. SYSTEM ERROR.

Narrative: ATX X WAS SBND ON V123 ABOUT 10-15 NM N OF CMK LEVEL AT 6000'. CPR Y WAS SBND ON V44 ABOUT 5-10 S OF PWL AND AT 7000'. IT WAS MY INTENT AS THE CTLR INVOLVED TO ISSUE CLRNC TO A THIRD ACFT, ACFT Z, TO FLY HDG 245 AND DSND TO 60. EVIDENTLY I SPOKE THE WRONG CALL SIGN AND ISSUED THE CLRNC TO CPR Y INSTEAD. CPR Y AND ATX X PASSED WITHIN 3 NM WHEN BOTH ACFT WERE AT 6000' SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 165762. SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS. CTLR ISSUED TURN AND CLB TO REGAIN SEP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.